In the evening Otto gathered his men.
Even those who have newly married wives fully accept the orders of their leaders, and they gather together to form a mighty army.
They carried shields on their backs, and all of them wore leather armor, and some also wore chain mail. Their leather helmets were covered with iron sheets, and their huge nose guards almost covered half of their faces.
Those people in White Tree Manor were filled with fear when they saw so many Varangians gathered together. Ordinary people chose to stay away from him. Only the manor director Rigus and several of his family members stayed with Otto.
The Ross people gathered together and immediately started chatting. Many people were already speculating that the leader's intention was not just to go to the largest Pine Needle Manor to collect tribute, but to kill them!
fighting? That's a really good thing.
The combat effectiveness of five hundred metal-armed warriors was unimaginable, and Rigus was glad that he was not against them. He was quite happy to receive the "praise" from Chief Ross that "you are a loyal dog".
He asked Otto respectfully: "Chief, are you really going to attack Pine Needle Manor?"
"You are scared when you see my people."
"Yes. I saw that this is an invincible army."
"Haha, of course we are invincible." After saying that, Otto drew out his patterned steel sword and walked towards his subordinates.
Otto raised his sword and shouted: "Brothers, I heard that some people in Novgorod do not surrender to us. I want to lead you to punish such rebellion. What do you think?"
They are like a pile of dry firewood that can turn into a huge fire with just a spark.
Hundreds of people responded to the leader's instigation with startling roars.
"I will lead you to attack the disloyal people. I will lead you to plunder treasures, food, cloth, and women! Our goal is the Pine Needle Manor upstream of the river. Tomorrow morning, I will take you there, and everything will be at my command. Follow orders!"
Otto felt that he had enough ability to restrain his subordinates. As long as he gave orders, they would execute them well.
Considering that Pine Needles was probably a behemoth of eight thousand people, a population size similar to that of Roseburg, operations had to be planned.
For such a huge target, Otto really lacked confidence if he really wanted to launch a military attack.
Otto didn't want to kill those people.
If White Tree Manor is a loyal dog, Pine Needle Manor is a fluffy sheep. It's this sheep that seems to be starting to have a mind of its own and needs to be taught a lesson.
Deterrence by force is a means to maintain the power of the Russians, and killings should not be carried out unless absolutely necessary.
Otto issued the order, and his men have begun preparing for tomorrow's "Pine Needles Manor Parade Deterrence."
There was still a lot of water in the long boat that was pushed ashore, and people used water ladles to shake the water out. The bundled linen sails were also soaked, and they were stretched out to dry.
This night, the Russians ate the newly baked soft black bread with a sweet and sour taste, and even drank oatmeal.
Except for those who were busy due to the wedding, the other Russians were ordered to cultivate themselves for the whole day. They ate high-starch food that was rare on weekdays. At night, everyone's stomach was bulging because they were so full. Their stomachs were filled with wheat, and the feeling of fullness was so miraculous that as long as they had one experience, the young Russians were eager for more.
After the formal wedding ceremony, according to the traditional etiquette of Novgorod, the newlywed wife is obliged to upgrade from a girl to a woman on the first night. Even if the man is shy, the woman should be more proactive.
Lilia tried to do this, but Kawei refused.
The wife's nose is high and her long braids are clean and elegant. She is an elegant person. Looking into her eyes, Kawei feels that he has forgotten all the troubles in the world.
Without going through the etiquette of the Ross tribe, Kawei, suppressed by his strong self-control, still asked his wife to remain pure.
He told his wife the secret of sulfur soap and even asked her to wash her hands with a small piece of soap. Lilia's palms were washed clean, and the smell of sulfur completely relieved her doubts. Kawei might allow her to spy on his steel sword at close range. The sharp blade could easily cut the hard wood of the bed. Looking at the fallen wood chips, Lilia's surprised eyes also contained a hint of fear.
Even through translation by the tribe, there is a huge difference between his husband calling himself a blacksmith and a warrior.
different? Really?
In Lilia's opinion, any Varangian with an ax and a sword is the same warrior. Isn't it ridiculous for a sword-wielding warrior to claim that he is a blacksmith and not a warrior?
I heard that they will go to Pine Needle Manor tomorrow to fight against disloyalty.
This was the only thing that made Lilia secretly happy.
Since she is already married, it is best not to let her husband Kawei know about the past.
Who would have thought that the current rickety manor director Ligus was quite handsome when he was young. He married a beautiful girl from another manor and gave birth to daughters who inherited their mother's beauty. Even more handsome than his father when he was young.
Svetlana showed off her beauty at a young age, and Lilia was exactly the same.
When Lilia was only ten years old, the head of Pine Needle Manor, Brudne, went to White Tree Manor and planned to make a marriage contract for his eldest son. His target was Lilia.
Asking for the marriage of a ten-year-old? This thing was so ridiculous that Rigus immediately refused.
Rigus' attitude was very resolute. He didn't appreciate any of the benefits of Brudne's release, so he had to leave angrily.
Brudne's eldest son was already married, and he really kept the White Tree Manor's lack of cooperation in mind.
In a huge area with 200,000 people gathered, a king will gradually form.
After all, the Russians are outsiders who have established themselves. For decades, they only came to collect some tributes. After that, they were still dominated by the strong locals.
Lilia didn't like those people at all, even if they were part of the so-called Novgorod people.
Who is the relative? Of course, White Tree Manor is the relative. Now, I have another Russian husband.
It would be great if the Ross people could teach Pine Needle Manor a lesson.
Even her newlywed husband had to follow his leader and participate in the crusade. As a first-time wife, even if she didn't understand the language, her concern for her husband's safety was already written on her face.
She still said nothing, waiting for the situation to change.
The next day, a fresh start.
The haze has passed, the golden light of the morning sun shines on the earth, and the huge Lake Ilmen immediately evaporates the graceful morning mist.
Fog enveloped the entire White Tree Manor, and the breeze rustled the birch forest. People could even see the floating fog clearly with the naked eye.
The sun has risen a lot, the fog has gradually faded, and this sunlight has penetrated through the gaps in the woods, causing a large number of holy light curtains to appear in the woodland around the manor.
At this scene, Otto couldn't help but think of the altar in his hometown.
The high priest Vilia claimed that the light curtain of the forest was also a hint from the forest god to the bright future of the prayers.
Otto was in a great mood. Because his men had eaten black bread and oatmeal early in the morning, they were not only in a good mood, but also full of strength.
A large number of people began to gather on the river beach, and Otto had already arrived here early. He slapped his shield with a wooden stick and shouted: "Brothers, stop dawdling and push the boat into the water. Quick!"
A large number of Viking longships began to enter the water, and young warriors jumped on the deck one after another, ignoring the fog that had not yet dissipated. Five hundred people sat on twenty ships and began to paddle against the current.
A thunderstorm brought a lot of water to Lake Ilmen, and the flow of the Volkhov River became obviously turbulent.
Young people who have eaten a lot of starchy food are eager to have some physical exercise, and paddling is a perfect fit.
On the shore, Rigus hunched his back and leaned on a cane, watching the Ross army temporarily go away in the mist.
Lilia stood beside her father, looking dreamily at the ships going away. At this moment, her heart belonged to her husband.
"I can't believe that you are still a girl." Ligus was a little unhappy, "You have obviously gone through the wedding."
"Dad, Kawei has his own principles."
"Principle? A strange principle. Lilia, you should know your mission clearly. Give your husband a boy and encourage him to get us more metal utensils."
"Oh." Lilia lowered her head slightly. Now she had to accept the reality that she was a tool.
Isn't marriage just a transaction? Lilia's eyes glanced at her sister Svetlana, who was being held by her mother Kya's little hand. Although this child was only six years old, she was also a tool for White Tree Manor - a tool that could ensure the absolute safety of the people of the manor.
Rigus muttered: "They are gone, let's go, children, let's go home. Lilia."
"yes."
"Be prepared, you will be leaving home soon. As a father, I can give you some gifts from your hometown. When you get to your husband's house, remember to listen to their words and be a good woman."
After leaving her hometown and living a life of eating fish and seal meat, her sister Peravina from the same ethnic group explained that such a life was not that bad. With an uneasy heart, she followed closely behind her father and went back.
The people of White Tree Manor continue to work in their fields. For them, only a few festivals throughout the year can be called rest days. The rest of the time they have to spend on trying to get as much food as possible.
Some men in the manor envied the life of the Russians, as if they could rob the weak and live a life of food and clothing without having to work, as long as they were strong enough.
Of course, they don't have strong muscles, and they lack metal weapons.
What they see is only a narrow surface. They don't know that the growth process of a warrior is full of dangers, and death may come suddenly.
On the other hand, twenty Russian boats formed a long snake formation and moved forward along the river in a mighty manner.
When the fog completely dissipated, everyone could see the open space ahead.
That is the farmland of the populous Pine Needles Estate, and a large number of log cabins appear farther away.
Otto turned around and faced all the oarsmen of his boat: "Brothers! Pine Needle Manor is here. Show your bravery this time and make those fools kneel down in fear when they see you."
"Chief, will they really kneel down?" someone suddenly asked in a high-pitched voice.
Suddenly another person retorted: "Idiot, if you pull out the sword, what fool would not kneel down?"
Soon, the longboat was filled with laughter and laughter.
However, contrary to their happiness, the farmers of Pine Needle Manor were frightened and fled in all directions when they saw such a fleet.
There are indeed 200,000 people living in Novgorod, but the most powerful groups live near Lake Ilmen, and the total population in this area is only more than 30,000. Most of the manors are hidden in dense forests. They have difficulty getting the gifts of Lake Ilmen, but they can make use of the resources of small and large rivers and streams that flow into the big lake.
One hundred and seventy thousand people live in remote areas, forming a large number of small estates in groups of several hundred people.
It is really troublesome to collect tribute from these people.
Otto's time was limited. He knew that there were still a large number of manors that were difficult to collect tribute due to their remote location, so he simply did not expect tribute from those people.
Of course, when collecting tribute, one must target the wealthiest. This year, he wanted to blackmail Pine Needle Manor.
The ship began to dock, and the Russians disembarked very skillfully and used cables to push the ship ashore.
Otto held a long sword in his hand, and the sword pointed directly at the house of the manor leader: "Brothers, follow me! Remember what I said, and act quickly!"
The Russians took off the shields on their backs one after another, carrying the shields in their left hands, and holding their weapons in their right hands.
Look at how well-armed they are. Are they here to collect tribute? He's obviously here to kill someone!
Everything was exactly like what happened in White Tree Manor. The residents of Pine Needle Manor either hid in their homes, or took the whole family and ran to the woods for refuge, regardless of the softness of their homes.
Others paddled canoes into the large lake, intending to hide among the reeds. Wait until the turmoil among the Russians subsides before returning to normal life.
To them, the Rus are the true gods of plague. If they are displeased, the result will be disaster.
Why do they think this way? The reason is also very simple.
Pine Needle Manor did not become powerful in an instant. Their development went through a long process.
They have no so-called historical records at all, and their past is only passed down by word of mouth.
In fact, Pine Needle Manor has existed since the Slavic peoples migrated eastward two hundred years ago. They entered Lake Ilmen as a large society and used their strong strength to seize their current position, which is the so-called mouth of Ilmen Lake into the Volkhov River.
They have the largest population. In addition, only a group of manors living along the lake have a population of more than a thousand people. A large number of small estates have always maintained a population of several hundred people.
Pine Needles Manor is fully capable of claiming that they are the king of this area, and in fact they have done so.
As a result, the Russian army came.
Those who experienced the past personally have passed away, but they still leave their descendants with the memory of a terrible war.
Do Novgorodians have to pay tribute? The first thing they chose was to fight. Due to the presence of foreign enemies, many manors united around Pine Needle Manor.
In ancient Slavic times, men and women fought together. Their elite men carried bronze or iron weapons, while others used stone spears and hammers.
Although their weapons were crude, their spirit of resisting the invasion was commendable.
It's a pity that Otto's ancestors turned into a huge team of 600 people when they took action. Of course, such a large number of troops are not aimlessly wandering along the river, because the Russian pioneers have known about the existence of Novgorod for a long time. Once they know the details of the opponent, the Russians will launch a war of conquest. Becomes a matter of course.
Otto also learned about past wars from his father, who died of old age.
It was a war between the Russians and the Novgorodians. Six hundred warriors fought against an enemy several times their size.
Men and women of Novgorod, they entered the battlefield with their own weapons. Although they were heroic, they were severely unorganized, nothing more than a chaotic bunch of charging madmen, eager to fight alone.
The results were of course brutal.
The Russians, who were tall, strong and all wearing armor, killed at least 500 people from the Novgorod Manor coalition in one battle, and their own losses were minimal.
From that time on, the Russians could claim to be the kings of Novgorod.
The Rus never intended to rule here personally, and when Otto became leader, he still had no intention of occupying it.
However, the Russians must maintain their authority. Now Otto has led his own army to attack the manor director's home surrounded by a tall wooden fence.
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Chapter 145 Otto arrives at Pine Needle Manor
